Women in the 19th Century

A glimpse into the life of a woman

Source A: Charlotte Despards Experiences

I was continually seeking to find expression for the force that was in me, trying to learn, asking to serve
with my life in my hand ready to offer, and no one wanting it. I must not, I was told, pursue certain
studies they were for boys I must not be so downright, it was unladylike. Heaven had decreed that I
should be a woman and (it would sometimes be added) a privileged woman. I must prove my gratitude
be gentleness, obedience and submission.
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Charlotte Despard detailing her experience of being a female in the 1850s.

Darlington, R., Greer, V., McCallum, A., Lumsdaine, J., & McAlister, Y. (2002). Turning Points:
Modern History Depth Studies. Melbourne: Heinemann.

Source B: The poor woman VS the rich woman

Aylett, J. F. (1987). The Past in Question: The Suffragettes and After. London, England: Hodder &
Stoughton Educational.

Source C: Cassandra

Women are never supposed to have any occupation of sufficient importance not to be interrupted,
except suckling their fools; and women themselves have accepted this, have written books to support
it, and have trained themselves so as to consider whatever they do as not of such value to the world as
others, but that they can throw it up at the first claim of social life. They have accustomed themselves
to consider intellectual occupation as a merely selfish amusement, which it is their duty to give up for
every trifler more selfish than themselves.
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Florence Nightingale, 1852, Cassandra.

Darlington, R., Greer, V., McCallum, A., Lumsdaine, J., & McAlister, Y. (2002). Turning Points:
Modern History Depth Studies. Melbourne: Heinemann.